Tellurium

52Te127.60

Vulcanizatin of rubber

Properties

Symbol

Name

Atomic
Number

Atomic
Weight

Group
Number

Te

Tellurium

52

127.60

15

Description

Standard State: solid at 298 KColor: Silvery lustrous gray

Discovered by Muller von Reichenstein 1782; named Klapoth, who isolated it in 1798.
Tellurium is occasionally found native, but is more often found as the telluride of
gold ad combined with other metals. It is recovered commercially from the anode
mud produced during the electrolytic refining of blister copper. Tellurium is p-type conductor, and shows greater conductivity in certain directions,
depending on alignment of the atoms. Its conductivity increases slightly with
exposure to light. Workmen exposed to as little as .01 mg of air or less, develop "tellurium
breath" which has a garlic like odor.